Notice to all the readers – the first 5 paragraphs are boring but I left them in anyway.
The sun was shining and I was happy. Today I was getting real breakfast, the most important meal of the day. It was no longer about me because now I had an excuse.
There were a ton of high school basketball teams at the hotel and they would all be at the food court making the line just too long. Plus, Grampy would really want table service after yesterdays counter service dinner. He is much more the “this is what we are doing type”. I was singing and laughing as I showered, dressed, fetched the coffee and paper and made sure Grampy was feeling fit as a fiddle. Which he wasn’t, but he said he felt a lot better and would be fine after a good breakfast. I did the little dance of joy and raised the arms in victory.
Knocked on Jkay’s door and informed them we were hopping a bus to Animal Kingdom and would be having breakfast at the Rainforest Café. I didn’t ask, I informed.
Grampy also told me that I should no longer ask, just tell. He gave me the TALK. The one where I am the one that knows what is what, the tour guide extraordinaire, the one who does all the research and planning and the one everyone turns to for a decision. Do not give choices. When all is said and done, when we are home rehashing the trip, it always comes back to the same thing. Grammy did a bang up job of making sure we experienced as much as possible.
He was/is right. I am the reason 18 people from south Jersey went to Graeters ice cream (Oprah’s favorite) in Cincinnati on a stinking hot day and knew there was a seafood festival right across the state line, why we went to Park City, Utah in the middle of summer and played winter sports in the dead of summer instead of hanging at the hotel in downtown Salt Lake City and the person that knew everything there was to know about the River Walk in San Antonio. Really he went on and on and I stopped listening after he said you are CAM tours (what our friends call me) and no tour bus gives options. Right he was. It really wasn’t about the breakfast; it was about doing lots of different things. In the end they would thank me (and they did!).
As we walked past the food court on the way to the bus, it was packed. First time all week and Grampy gave me a little wink and grin. The bus was just pulling up for Animal Kingdom and there was not a single peep in line. We were scoring with the buses everyday. Before you could blink an eye we were walking towards the Rainforest. I am sure there was a restroom stop before we got there because that was predetermined by a change in the amendments to the constitution.
We were all giggles and grins as we headed around the trees and bushes to the café entrance when we all stopped dead in our tracks. Right before our eyes was the end of the Black Friday line at Wal Mart at 5 AM. There must have been 200 teenagers in basketball shirts. OMG! Are you kidding me? Grampy pulled out the smelling salts and waved it under my nose. I regained my composure, and told the 3 Musketeers to stand their ground. If they passed out tickets for a Wii get one and I would be right back.
Excuse me about 51 times till I got to the podium. My eyeballs might have been dragging on the ground with my tongue when I asked how long for a table for 4. The girl grinned and said “get em, these kids have a buffet in the back and are waiting for the others to clear out.”
Working my way upstream, excuse me, excuse me, I found my crew looking all dejected. Gave the big thumbs up and started working downstream and were promptly seated in an almost empty restaurant. As soon as I ordered the coffee, I asked if they got the Wii coupon. Nope.
Breakfast was lovely. Hot upon arrival, didn’t have to stand to get it, they kept bringing the java juice to the table, and we watched all the basketball players stream in and out and tried to tally the cost for the shoes on all their feet. It was a lot of DVC points for sure.
As predicted, the Musketeers were happy after breakfast. Mental note, tours are not a democracy. I really do know best. Enter into evidence, this photopass, don’t we look happy.
The safari was our first stop and we headed over but not before finding a restroom. It occurred to me afterwards that I should have taken pictures of every restroom we frequented. Then I could just have a photo journal of all the toilets on property. Maybe my next trip report will be Everything About Toilets, 101
Jkay took her normal pictures, most of them of my ear.
I took real pictures.
Today was a take it easy kind of day and this park is perfect for it. We wandered along a lot of trails and saw Devine and talked to a lot of CM’s that had tons of information to share. Felt just like a 4th grade field trip, which I have been on plenty.
We made our way over to Dinoland and hit a couple of rides and grabbed some Fastpasses for Everest. I knew that the Finding Nemo Musical was having trial runs and we were going to try to catch the show.
After walking past what seemed like 45,000 people in line, we took our spots. The CM assured us the stadium was huge and would hold lots more peeps. She was right. The line went on and on, farther then a triple roll of Charmin.
Grampy loves these kinds of productions and I really wanted him to see it. I was excited because he had no idea what the newest attraction held and I shared nothing. Sure enough, when the show started he was mesmerized. He is such a big kid sometimes. His eyes were big as saucers and he was totally engrossed in the action. It really was awesome. All of a sudden the house lights came up and they announced “Due to technical difficulties, the rest of today’s performance is cancelled. Please exit to the right.” WHAT!
Grampy was beside himself. He kept saying “I want to see the end”. So did everyone else in the theater. No one really exited quickly. Mostly there were lots of groans and people asking if maybe they would continue. It was to be a no go. The CM’s said try back for the 3:00 show. Grampy was sad so I dug into my purse to find him something to soothe the disappointment. I had a miniature candy cane and offered it up as a pacifier and he accepted, grudgingly. Finally we exited to the right with the crowd and were greeted with a tremendous downpour. The rain mixed with the tears of the toddlers and Grampy.
Up next – Please can I have a pretzel and a beer
We'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary in WDW in October so of course your trip report caught my eye. I love the picture of your friend in front of Winnie's house... that will SO be me this fall 
My poor hubby.... put me in an environment like WDW and I'm instantly 10 again!
I have had some technical difficulties. Mainly in transferring from laptop to desktop, something happened and it ain't good.
I wished I had Kona today. Maybe really soon though 
Love your flag 
Our "estate" is in Cape May. I am sooo ready for summer 
I have no idea how and am in the process of rewriting it. Hope to have it up tommorrow. Life got in the way today
In my eyes at least.
